- Animals and Environmental- Volunteer Training 2016 - Animals and Environmental-

Structure of SVS Students Association SRC SSC Convener Development Officer Treasurer Events &Publicity Secretary Technical Officer Project Officers Youth w/ Additional Needs Volunteers Youth Adults w/ Additional Needs Elderly Befriending Animals Environmental

What is volunteering? “A volunteer is someone who, unpaid and of their own free will, contributes their time, energy and skills to benefit people in their community.” - Fife Voluntary Action “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nations’ compassion, unselfish caring, patience and just plain loving one another.” - Erma Bombeck “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless” - Sherry Anderson “The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering: doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good.” - Ivan Scheier “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” - Unknown

What volunteering means to you? A sentence or two: What volunteering means to you? Why you chose to volunteer? Why you feel volunteers are important? What your expectations of volunteering are?

What is volunteering? “A volunteer is someone who, unpaid and of their own free will, contributes their time, energy and skills to benefit people in their community.” - Fife Voluntary Action “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nations’ compassion, unselfish caring, patience and just plain loving one another.” - Erma Bombeck “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless” - Sherry Anderson “The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering: doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good.” - Ivan Scheier “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” - Unknown

Rights What are your rights as a volunteer? Discuss with the people around you.

Rights To know what is expected of you To have clear lines of support and supervision To be given training To be shown appreciation To be free from discrimination To have safe working conditions To have the resources necessary for the projects To reclaim out of pocket expenses To have input in to decision making within the project and SVS To choose your own level of commitment and be able to discontinue volunteering.

Responsibilities To be reliable and honest. To be punctual and regular in attending your project. Respect confidentiality. Attend any relevant training and work within agreed guidelines. Communicate when unable to attend/wishing to leave the project. Seek advice and help when necessary. Take care of personal belongings. Participate in monitoring and evaluation. Not smoke on any SVS project, or consume alcohol prior to or during. Wear appropriate clothing.

Responsibilities What are your responsibilities as a volunteer? Discuss with the people around you?

Scenario You’ve been in the library solidly for the last three days. You have a deadline tomorrow and still have quite a lot of work to do. You’re meant to be volunteering at the Botanical Gardens this afternoon, but don’t think you’re going to make it. What should you do?

Scenario As soon as you decide you’re not going, contact the project. If you don’t have contact with the project directly tell the Project Officer or another volunteer. Don’t go if it’s going to be detrimental to you! Try and give as much notice as possible. Time management – timetabling.

Benefits What benefits can you get from volunteering? Discuss with the people around you.

Benefits FUN! Help a worthy cause Enhance CV Give back to the community you live in Improve health Gain confidence Develop/learn skills Challenge Meet people Gain experience FUN!

Travel expenses

Logging hours

Housekeeping Office Hours Contacts: One off Projects Convener 11:15am-12:15pm, Mondays, Union Main Bar Treasurer 12:15pm-13:15pm, Mondays, Union Main Bar Contacts: Sophie Johnston (Animals Project Officer): stj@st-andrews.ac.uk Sophie Vonholm (Environmental Project Officer): siv@st-andrews.ac.uk Sarah Rodway-Swanson (Convener): srs5@st-andrews.ac.uk SVS Account: svs@st-andrews.ac.uk One off Projects

Why environmental? “Planet Earth is 4600 million years old. If we condense this inconceivable time-span into an understandable concept, we can liken the Earth to a person of 46 years of age. Nothing is known about the first seven years of this person's life, and whilst only scattered information exists about the middle span, we know that only at the age of 42 did the Earth begin to flower. Dinosaurs and the great... reptiles did not appear until one year ago, when the planet was 45. Mammals arrived only 8 months ago; in the middle of last week man-like apes evolved into ape-like men, and at the weekend the last ice age enveloped the Earth. Modern Man has been around for four hours. During the last hour, man discovered agriculture. The industrial revolution began a minute ago. During those 60 seconds of biological time, Modern Man has made a rubbish tip of paradise.” -unknown

Why animals? “The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.” - George Bernard Shaw

Health and Safety Particularly important when volunteering with animals and the environment. Don’t do something you’re not comfortable with. Know your limits. Dress appropriately, keep warm. Stay hydrated.

Respect Respect the environment Respect animals Respect fellow volunteers Respect organisation

Scenario You’re volunteering at the Dundee Cat Shelter and have been for some time. There’s a new local volunteer there one day when you’re in. You notice they’re being aggressive and violent towards the cats, and are concerned for their safety. What should you do?

Reporting Report Don’t worry! The project in the first instance Us SPCA Don’t worry!

Starting to volunteer Start dates Socials HAVE FUN!

Questions?

Thank you